Helpful Facts About Your Digestive System

Indigestion and gallstones are two very different things. However, they both cause severe abdominal pain and discomfort after you have eaten. This is especially true after eating certain foods.

Unfortunately, it is far too easy to get these two conditions confused with one another. This is because of the many different similarities. While indigestion can usually be solved with over-the-counter treatments, gallbladder issues often require medical intervention.

Let’s talk about some of the differences between indigestion and gallstones to understand them better.

What Are the Signs of Indigestion?

Also often known as dyspepsia, indigestion can cause a lot of discomfort in the upper part of your abdomen. This is especially true when overeating foods that are greasy or fatty. On top of that, stress and anxiety can also result in an upset stomach because indigestion can be triggered by psychological causes.

Other causes include alcohol consumption, smoking, and medication. It can affect people of all ages. Eating slowly or choosing healthier food can help you avoid indigestion.

How Gallstones are Different

A very common problem when it comes to the gallbladder is the development of gallstones. The gallbladder is responsible for storing bile which is produced by the liver. From there, it is transferred into the small intestine in order to digest food.

Bile contains cholesterol. However, gallstones can form if the body is unable to break down the bile. Gallstones can often cause blockages that later lead to infections. Gallstones can lead to chills, fevers, and pain, and may radiate into the shoulders and back.

While they may often pass on their own, there is a large risk of symptoms becoming worse.

How They Are Similar

It can be quite easy to confuse gallstones and indigestion as the pain can feel similar. After all, both the gallbladder and stomach are located in the upper abdomen. Pain from gallstones and indigestion can occur after you have eaten a greasy or heavy meal.

Though, with gallstones, there is a small delay of roughly an hour before your symptoms start to develop. Over-the-counter medication can help you relieve symptoms and will work with indigestion, but not gallstones. However, gallbladder attacks can often result in indigestion.

It is important to remember that obese people are at a large risk of developing gallstones.

If you are often experiencing abdominal discomfort, come visit us at Beverley Hills Center for Digestive Health. We can quickly diagnose your condition to prescribe a treatment plan to begin easing your symptoms. If you have any questions, get in touch with our friendly team today.